St. Louis Group Mum On Role For Payton

October 27, 1993|By Don Pierson, Tribune Pro Football Writer.

Reticent newcomer Stan Kroenke, trying to rescue St. Louis for NFL expansion, was unable to confirm the future of Walter Payton in the group during an uncomfortable press conference in Rosemont Tuesday.

Apparently sensitive about inviting lawsuits from other partners in the convoluted St. Louis ownership structure, Kroenke said Payton's status would be addressed "at the appropriate time."

James Busch Orthwein, owner of the New England Patriots and a 30 percent owner in the St. Louis group, appeared with Kroenke as a "supporter" of St. Louis. He was unable to give a yes or no answer when asked if he would move the Patriots to St. Louis if the city were not awarded a franchise.

Payton, who has played a very public role in the St. Louis effort to build a stadium and secure a team, was out of sight Monday. The irony of the St. Louis bid to convince the NFL it is indeed a football town was the conspicuous absence of one of the all-time great football players.

In the city's final presentation, baseball announcer Jack Buck, who also broadcasts football, was part of the contingent that included ABC announcer Dan Dierdorf, a former offensive tackle for the St. Louis Cardinals, who moved to Phoenix in 1988.

The announcement of Charlotte as one of the two new franchises confirmed that either Baltimore or St. Louis, the two cities that lost teams during the '80s, again will be disappointed.

Kroenke, a shopping-mall developer and in-law to Sam Walton, admitted he "couldn't imagine three days ago being in a room like this."

"You may not have detected that much enthusiasm from Mr. Kroenke, but with his money you don't need to be enthusiastic," Bosley said.

Payton spent the day at his office in Schaumburg only minutes away from the meeting site, available to be a part of the St. Louis presentation if called.

Kroenke and House Majority leader Richard Gephardt (D-Mo.), who also appeared at Tuesday's presentation, indicated that Payton's role remains undefined because of legal considerations raised Monday when partner Jerry Clinton stepped aside and a third partner, Fran Murray, notified the league he planned to exercise his "right of succession" to control the partnership.

Although Murray did not come up with the required $20 million letter of credit, the finance and expansion committees allowed him to present his case Tuesday. The league began the day with a discussion of last week's antitrust case by former Patriots owner Billy Sullivan, in which a jury awarded Sullivan $114 million after he convinced the court he had to sell the Patriots because the league prevented him from selling stock. The league will appeal and is particularly wary about additional lawsuits.

Asked whether Payton would be a part of his group, Kroenke said: "At the appropriate time when we can address that, we would, but certain circumstances need to be addressed."

Gephardt added: "That can't be decided at this point. . . . but I think something may come down the road."